You must be logged in to get the Event Coordinator contact information.
![](/image/spacer.gif"){kind=spacer}
We will drive to Nordegg on Friday evening and spend 3 days, over the May Long Weekend, at the Shunda Creek Hostel, taking advantage of the wonderful hikes (and other activities) available in the area.
For those who are unfamiliar with the area, here are a few more notes about Nordegg and the Bighorn Backcountry Region:
The David Thompson Corridor/Bighorn Backcountry Region stretches along an 83 km section of Hwy 11 in west-central Alberta, from Nordegg west to the Banff National Park boundary (where Hwy 11 intersects with Hwy 93 at Saskatchewan Crossing). The hamlet of Nordegg (pop. ~200), located approximately 200 km west of Red Deer, is a former coal-mining town that once had a peak population of ~2500 people. Coal mining activities shut down in Nordegg in the mid 1950s and the remnants of the former Brazeau Collieries mine site are now a National Historic Site of Canada. The Shunda Creek Hostel, where we will be staying, is located to the north of the townsite.
Hiking Options
Based on past EOC trips to the Nordegg area that I attended in 2007 and 2008, the hiking trails in the area are probably clear of snow by the May long weekend. You may encounter some mud and patches of snow, particularly at upper elevations, so you should wear gaiters while hiking to help keep dry. It is unlikely that we'll encounter fresh snow, although overnight temperatures will drop to just above freezing.
An excellent guide for hikes in the region is "The David Thompson Highway: A Hiking Guide" (Jane Ross and Daniel Kyba, Rocky Mountain Books), and if you can obtain a copy of this book it is definitely worthwhile.
We will decide as a group at the hostel which hikes we will do.
Accomodation: The hostel has 49 beds. I have booked two co-ed dorm rooms for the EOC (there are 5 beds per room) and paid a 50% deposit. I must confirm the booking at least 36 days prior to the event, which is why I've set a payment/registration cut-off on April 10th. After this date, if you are unable to attend the event I will only be able to refund you if someone else can be found who can take your spot.
Additional notes:
-On Saturday and Sunday nights we will have pot luck dinners. We will split into two groups for each night, one cooking and one cleaning.
- I have been told that the hostel has two cats. which may wander through the common area (downstairs) but do not enter the dorm rooms (upstairs). Please take note in case you have allergies to cats.
- Beer and wine are allowed but the hostel prohibits hard alcohol (coolers, other types of liquor, etc.).
| Required Items to Bring: - Overnight items - Towel (for showers/hot tub) - Food for entire weekend - Hiking boots - Hiking poles - Appropriate clothing for hiking | | Recommended Items to Bring: Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need. - BYOB -NOTE: Beer and wine are allowed; hard alcohol (coolers, shots, vodka, whisky, etc.) is prohibited by the hostel - Bathing suit for the outdoor hot tub - Hiking Guide: "The David Thompson Highway" - Board Games - Musical instrument(s) - Slippers or indoor shoes for the dining hall - Head lamp or flashlight - Earplugs (to protect you from nighttime evils such as people staying up later and/or snoring) |
The hostel is just west of Nordegg, 3 km north of Highway 11 on the Shunda Creek Recreation Area Road. Keep left at the fork in the road.
Excellent instructions for how to reach the hostel are also available on the hostel's website.
- Registration is NOT COMPLETE until you've signed up and paid by the registration cut off date. The money must be in the EOC's possession by that date. No exceptions.
- When a minimum group size appears, this is to let you know that the event will be cancelled with refunds to those who have already paid, if the minimum number of registered participants is not met. For any events where EOC needs a minimum number of participants, there will be absolutely no refunds of money if you cancel.
- We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines at all times while participating in EOC events.
- Please scroll through and read the entire online waiver when you sign up.
- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.
- EOC payment fee (3% of event cost, $2.70)
Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!